The Stray Saga - Part 2

That's right. There IS a part two! Please don't be mad that I didn't tell you about it sooner. I know you were all worried sick (yea, right). Okay, to back up, our cat got out last Saturday. The neighbors were alerted last Sunday. The temperatures at that point were below freezing and the ground was covered with snow and ice. The neighbors that I thought should have the cat did NOT. I didn't have much hope. I did, however, have a big old pile of guilt, screaming in my ear, and generally making it hard to sleep or think.

Monday, my dad drove around the neighborhood, looking for signs of the cat. Monday evening, Jim and I drove around the neighborhood (at different times). Tuesday night, I drove around the neighborhood again. Wednesday I took Dylan to school, then home, and I was busy with him all day. Wednesday, around dinner time, the phone rang. It was the neighbor lady who said she would take the cat. "Guess who just came to my door?", she asked. WOOHOO!! Take that, guilt (kicking it off my shoulder, and shoving it's face in the snow). Who knows where the cat was for those 4 days? Who cares? It is safe.

Just when I thought the stray's story (as far as I was concerned at least) was over "cat lady" neighbor informed me "One of my other cats has an upper respiratory infection and I just had to get $200 worth of antibiotics at the vets, so I have your cat shut in a room away from the other cats (she already has two and a dog)? Then came the request. "Would you mind taking your cat to the vet's, to get updated shots, and to just make sure she is healthy and okay to be around my other animals, before I take her?" Well, crap! I couldn't exactly say no. But, of course you know what that meant... the stray found it's way back into my basement, and there it was once again tripping me as I tried to go down the stairs.

Luckily, I was able to get an appointment on Friday. My mom stayed with Dylan, while my dad and I took the stray. The "cat lady" had warned me that the stray "REALLY" didn't like getting in the carrier, but after only two tries she was in, and we were on our way. On the way there, she started "Meowing" like crazy, and we could hardly talk over her. Then, the stench hit us. "OH...MY...(Gag! Gag! Gag!)"... "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? (Gag!)" (Windows being rolled down frantically)... Then, my dad, "DON'T LOOK! Do.Not.Look. I don't want to know".... Then, both of us cracking up laughing at the absurdity of the situation... Gagging... Laughing...Freezing cold air blowing in the window...cat meowing...gagging... Fun times.

Oh, and getting the stray healthy enough to take to the "cat lady"? Cost me $150. On Saturday, before I took her over to "cat lady" FOREVER, I asked Jim, "Do you have any parting words for the cat?" "Bye!" he called over his shoulder, already on his way back up the stairs. We are quite emotional, as you can tell. I nearly cried, though...(with joy), when I got my "You owe me!" 10 minute foot massage later.